The journey for the French national team concluded abruptly. Les Bleus faced elimination from the 2026 World Cup at the semi-final stage, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Spain. What many anticipated as a fiercely contested encounter, akin to an early final, instead saw La Roja assert complete dominance over a French squad that lacked offensive bite.
First half woes: penalty and injury plague Les Bleus
The opening half proved to be a nightmare for the French side. Amidst a flurry of physical challenges, the Spanish team capitalized on the match’s palpable tension, intensifying their pressure. This led to several risky fouls, notably Adrien Rabiot’s challenge on Dani Olmo early in the game.
The decisive moment arrived in the 20th minute when Lucas Digne, caught unaware, brought down Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. Although the contact appeared minimal, it was sufficient for the referee to award a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up, maintaining his perfect record from the spot, and confidently converted to put Spain ahead.
Further misfortune struck around the half-hour mark, as William Saliba was forced off due to injury, with Maxence Lacroix coming on as his replacement.
Spain’s masterclass for the second goal
At halftime, sensing Adrien Rabiot’s growing nervousness and the risk of a second yellow card, Didier Deschamps opted for a midfield change, bringing on Manu Koné. Despite his impressive performance against Morocco, the AS Roma player was unable to stem the tide of the relentless Spanish attack.
In the 58th minute, La Roja delivered a masterclass in attacking play, culminating in their second goal. Pedro Porro finished off a slick one-two with Dani Olmo, who skillfully returned the ball despite being fouled just outside the box. This goal, which effectively sealed the victory, was a symbolic moment for two of Spain’s standout performers in the tournament.
Les Bleus were clearly struggling, and the scoreline nearly worsened moments later. Lamine Yamal embarked on a brilliant solo run from the right flank, cutting inside to unleash a shot past Mike Maignan, but his effort was ultimately disallowed in the 61st minute.
Deschamps left without answers
It cannot be said that Didier Deschamps didn’t try to alter the course of the game. However, his substitutions lacked the impact needed to turn the tide. The introductions of Désiré Doué before the hour mark, followed by Théo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki, failed to genuinely threaten the disciplined Spanish defense. Meanwhile, Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, also had formidable options on his bench, and he didn’t hesitate to deploy them, bringing on Ferran Torres, Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Nico Williams.
With roughly ten minutes remaining in regular time, the French team made desperate attempts to ignite their attack, yet they couldn’t manage to convert any chances or even test the goalkeeper. This included a poorly executed opportunity when Unai Simon ventured outside his box, which Désiré Doué failed to capitalize on, opting against a lob.
Spain will now advance to their first World Cup final since their triumph in 2010. La Roja awaits the winner of Wednesday evening’s clash between Argentina and England.
